Clemson Athletics achieved historic success in 2022-23

Clemson Athletics had a strong year during the 2022-23 school year. The Tigers won four ACC titles, with football, baseball, men’s track and women’s golf all bringing home crowns.

The Clemson football team knocked off North Carolina in the ACC Championship game, while the baseball team got hot late in the year and pounded Miami 11-5 in the ACC title game. Men’s track edged out Florida State to win its first ACC title since 2004, while the women’s golf team defeated Virginia to win the program’s first ever ACC title.

Clemson Athletics Director Graham Neff recently joined Eric Mac Lain and Kelly Gramlich on the Gramlich and Mac Lain podcast and discussed the success his department had this year.

“We finished this academic year with four ACC championships – football, women’s golf, men’s outdoor track and baseball. Those four in one year was the most at Clemson since 1999 – 24 years – and in 1999 there were only nine schools in the ACC,” Neff said. “Now we have 15. So it’s something we’re really proud of. We’re going to continue to invest across the board. Football is really important here and nationally for a lot of reasons, but also from a business and revenue standpoint to allow us raise the tide.”

In 1999, Clemson men’s track and field won the ACC indoor championship, the women’s track and field team won the ACC outdoor championship, the women’s basketball team won the ACC tournament title and women’s volleyball won the ACC regular season title.

Why Clemson is cautious when it comes to adding new facilities

The Clemson campus has plenty of green grass where in theory new buildings could be put up. However, Tigers Athletics Director Graham Neff says don’t expect new buildings to start popping up anytime soon.

Neff recently joined Eric Mac Lain and Kelly Gramlich on the Gramlich and Mac Lain podcast and discussed why Clemson is so careful in regards to updating its facilities.

“A lot of green space here. You look around, look out the windows. But holy cow, that green space is really, really important and valuable for seven Saturdays from a tailgating and parking and IPTAY side of things,” Neff said. “So you look at Google maps, you take a lap around campus, ‘Holy cow, all of this opportunity and that’s really different than downtown Atlanta or Miami’ … but we don’t take that lightly of ‘Great, there’s green grass, so let’s build something.’”

Clemson takes pride in its tailgating scene, which is widely regarded as one of the best in college football.

Not only is it cool to walk around campus and see tailgating lots full hours before games, but it’s also a great money maker for the athletics department. Tailgating spaces are pricy, and the money adds up.

Graham Neff added that Clemson will still add buildings when it is absolutely necessary, but the Tigers aren’t in a huge rush to do so.

“We’ve expanded and will continue to expand. We’re just going to continue to do that,” Neff said. “But it’s done with a lot of thought and strategy as it balances seven Saturdays, IPTAY and what that tailgating scene is like here at Clemson, which also is really, really unique compared to most anybody in the country.”